Textual Analysis For The Song 'Eskimo' by Damien Rice

These are the lyrics for the song Eskimo which was written and performed by the acoustic artist Damien rice. Rice has said him self that this song was written when he was suffering 'strong writers block' and needed his 'friend' for some inspiration to write a good song. Songs can have different meanings for a different type of audience which creates music so popular amongst such a mass audience. This song to me, personally suggests the idea someone is lost and is looking for help / someone to look up to for help which to be honest is the same idea Rice had in mind whilst writing this song as he was 'searching for inspiration from a friend' whom was not there. Im going to analyse the lyrics to create evidence for Damien Rice's reason to write the song.

Tiredness fuels empty thoughts
I find myself disposed
The lyrics above state how tired from writing a song, makes 'writers block' worse, the second line creates the idea that he's lost all inspiration and therefore feels like a 'rubbish' and 'used up' artist in whom needs to be disposed. Through a wider lens, this could suggest the idea someone is suffering to get through 'everyday life' therefore finds themselves feeling like they have no positive input in society, have no positive impact within other peoples lives in fact, therefore 'disposed' and 'pointless'
Brightness fills empty space
In search of inspiration
The two lines above, i feel Rice is trying to put across how empty his mind is whilst suffering from 'writers block' and he basically puts this point across by then singing 'In search of inspiration.' Again, for my video promo i feel i need to create more of an interesting story line than a writer suffering from writers block, therefore these two lyrics could suggest the idea of someone who is depressed within themselves and needing inspiration for somewhere, from someone to change their perceptions on themselves/ society.
Harder now with higher speed
Washing in on top of me
The two lines above i feel are explaining the idea of him circling lots of ideas in his head, all being thought of at once however there's no time to write them all down, which is common with writers block. There would be a long state of mind in which you can't literally think of any ideas to write about, then suddenly lots of ideas come into your head at once, the second line could suggest how he's out of his depth with writing this song, thus the idea of being drowned in either false hope of lots of rubbish ideas.
So I look to my Eskimo friend
I look to my Eskimo friend
I look to my Eskimo friend
When I'm down, down, down.
The following lyrics above are pretty much easy to understand, as Rice is writing this song he's longing for his friend, who perhaps is away in Finland, to give him some inspiration for song writing. 'When I'm down, down down' reinstate the idea of him being 'out of his depth' and 'drowning' with the weight of this song which he possibly didn't understand would be as much hard work as its proved to be.
These lyrics could connect and develop my story for my promo video due the idea of this character being 'lost' and 'confused,' she needs someone or something to look up to, either for advice or help she needs her 'Eskimo friend' just like Rice needs at this moment in time.


Rain it wets muddy roads
I find myself exposed
The lyrics above i believe are basically explaining the 'pointless' and 'rubbish' ideas in which are circling around Rice's head as he's suffering from writers block. He could possibly be looking out of the window to be viewing the rain wetting muddy roads, with the second line realising how exposed Rice is at this point, as with writers block, he will be understandably be noting down every emotion and idea for a song on paper / computer therefore, his feelings and mind will be completely exposed.
This could connect with my story for, as this character is feeling more increasingly lost and vulnerable as she explains her emotions and feelings to the audience, she finds herself 'exposed' and open. Also rain connotes the idea of cleansing, purity and once again being exposed to the audience.
Tapping doors, but irritate
In search of destination
The following lyrics above i feel Rice is trying to explain how he needs this song to 'go somewhere' hence 'destination.' The first line of lyric i feel explains the idea of how easy it is to fall into a 'trap door' with a 'rubbish idea' for a song with his emotion for this frustrating act is explained as 'irritating.'
The above lyrics could connect with my promo video story with the idea of the character finally thinking they have a way out of feeling lost and confused however it's a 'trap,' in fact they still haven't found the way out. Also the second like 'In search of destination' could suggest the idea that the character trying to find 'a place' or 'the place' in which she feels most content and happy, as the place she is at now isn't the place she wants / needs to be.
Harder now with higher speed
Washing in on top of me
So I look to my Eskimo friend
I look to my Eskimo friend
I look to my Eskimo friend
When I'm down, down, down.

Kosketa minua - Touch me
Älä käsilläsi - Not with your hands
Vaan niin että tunnen sinut - But so that I feel you
The lyrics above are sang in operatic in the language of Finnish. The lyrics have been translated (to the right) in English therefore we know what Rice has written, the idea of the lyric stating 'touch me, not with your hands, but so i can feel you' is the idea of perhaps this 'friend' could be something on a spiritual level rather then physically there, it creates a sense of magic and enchantment from where he craves inspiration from.
I could use this same idea within my music promo video, the idea for the character to be needing some inspiration or help from perhaps a spiritual level such as they feel lost and helpless as a family member has passed away, or a basic idea of her needing to find god once again due to a streak of weakness in which she lost her view, and lost god.

Halaa minua - Hug me
Älä käsilläsi - Not with your hands
Mutta sielussasi - But within your soul

Minä kaipaan eskimo-ystävääni - I miss my Eskimo friend
This is reinstating the idea that he longs for his friend, whether they were actually in Finland whilst Rice wrote this song, he stresses the fact of him needing this 'friend' to which who/ what it is, is unclear to the audience however the comforting fact is the idea not actually knowing this. It leaves an element of mystery and enchantment which is nice to see in a song, this is also reflected within the fact of this being sung in Finnish as the English audience wont necessarily know what is being such as Finnish is not a largely spoken language to most of England.
This could also be reflected in my promo video as the character who is searching for something could be searching for her friend as she misses her Eskimo friend. She could be searching out of an act of desperation for she could have many problems and she just needs that special thing or person to comfort her through this obviously hard time in her life.

When I'm down, down, down.
When I'm down, down, down.
When I'm down, down, down.
This is the ending of the song which is repeated using the 'rule of 3.' This creates closure to the song and reflects for the final time to the audience why he needs his 'friend' at this time in his life, as he's writing this song. The song finished with these sentences as well as Rice's voice being faded out, not knowing what or who Eskimo friend is i feel, creates the element of mystery, comfort and enchantment.
Within my music promo i feel i could fade out with the music to leave the same closure as it's a lot more pleasant on the eye and ears for something to fade out to a finish, rather then just suddenly cut to a finish, especially when the songs as gentle as Rice's is.

Over all i feel this song is a very calming, comforting and pleasent piece of music in which keeps the mystery of what the friend is / who the friend is throughout the song. I feel a mass audience can connect with the song as i feel the mass audience can connect with the idea of the song in many different ways depending on their personal experiences. I feel very positively about my chosen song, and i feel the intelligent, artistic lyrics will be reflicted in my artistic idea for a storyline as well as cinematography, mise-en-scene and editing.